May Days

Friday, 1 May:  Labor Day (National Holiday) – no workers or supervisors, only a guard at the Cementerio; so we had the day off.  All stores and public services were closed, so there were very few buses running and the streets were all quiet except for a big flea market set up on Avenida Argentina.  We and the Smiths, our daily work buddies from Boise, took a trip at 1 pm to get some exercise on the paths near the Playa Ancha area – the south side of the bay.  It was an enjoyable time and we saw beautiful new views of the ocean slamming against rocks below.  

 

Later that night, we went over to the apartment of  the Schramms from North Carolina.  He is serving as Counselor in the Mission Presidency and she as a Stake YW leader.  They have recently been further assigned to strengthen the Valparaíso District.  We met there a new senior couple recently arrived from North Farmington - the Poulsens.  She is handling the medical appointments in the office, and he is in charge of the apartments.  As a young sister, she served in the Argentina South Mission, and he served in Washington, DC.  So HE is learning the language...!!  We walked, had ice cream and took an ascensor up to see some of the murals of the Museo a Cielo Abierto. 

Sunday, 3 May:  After a nice Fast Meeting, the adults all spent two hours with a (visiting) counselor in the Presidency of the Santiago Temple.  Favorite scripture he used:  D&C 20:33-34. …take heed and pray always, lest [you] fall into temptation.  Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also. 

Monday, 4 May:  The Secretario of the mission asked us to come to the mission office in Viña to make some more progress on obtaining our foreign resident identification card (carnet).  We got back to work for only 2-hours of record capturing. 

Tuesday, 5 May:  Zone Leaders called us to a replica of the Leaders Training .  Be at the Stake Center at 8:30 am.  Over at 2 pm, and we then rode our first trolebuse back to the cementerio.  Since trolebuses are not able to head up the cerros, this was our first opportunity to catch transportation on the plano (flat strip of land by the bay). 

Wednesday and Thursday, 6 &7 May:  Finally, full work days….  

Friday, 8 May:  District Meeting for 3 hours in between work.  Change of 1 Elder.  All are dedicated, super missionaries.

Saturday, 9 May:  Today is our P-Day, and we and the Smiths got onto the Valpo Metro at its end-of-the-line stop in Valpo (near Sotomayor Square),

and rode it through Viña and north for about 45 minutes to the other end-of-the-line.  It did not go up a coastal route as the buses do, but went northeast off the coast and north through a few little towns – ending in Limache.  The change in scenery was big as we went from coastal palms and pines to desert hills covered with a mesquite variety and a cholla cactus variety.

  It reminded us of Arizona!!  We walked down the main street of Limache and the changes were big. A way slower pace than Valpo, with hardly any traffic and only a handful of sidewalk vendors.  No hustle – no bustle.  We walked to the main town square, soaked up the warm sun, found a good ice cream shop, re-boarded the Metro, and coasted on back down to Valpo.  One of the highlights was to be entertained by guitar players and singers who would serenade our car for 3 or 4 stops, and then pass the hat for “voluntary contributions”.  Some were better than others. …  Then back to pelicans and waves.

 

Sunday, 10 May 2015:  Mother’s Day in the mission.

  A baptism of a 17-year-old new M.M.J.J. (YW).  Sweet special numbers by 4 of the youth.  They asked Dad to accompany them on the computer (we have no pianist, so he plays accompaniment music for the hymns on our computer for Sacrament Meeting.  The H.H.J.J. and the M.M.J.J. call him the “Ward DJ”).  After church, the Smiths had us over for dinner across the hall.  They have about a month left in the mission, and Sister Smith is really ready to be home already with her grands.  We were also joined by the Schramms.   They will also complete their mission and return on the same flight as the Smiths back to the good ol’ USA.  Good group – good spirit.

Monday and Tuesday, 11 and 12 May 2015:  Back to work!!!

  Another adventure on the crowded, noisy micros.  We are always playing musical chairs, giving up our seats to someone who needs it more. 

Note the sign in the window:  It’s blurry, but you may notice the Spanish name for “pregnant” is embarazada!  All (teenagers included) are very courteous!!

Wednesday, 13 May 2015:  As we trek in the cold and dark to the bus stop to work today with District Meeting scheduled in between, I was remembering the warm weather and our swimming pool (cement tank) our Dad built in our backyard in St. David, Arizona.  We loved to swim and eat outside in May and all through summer.  We would walk along the sides of the pool which were about 6 feet above ground, and sing: “I was walking in the park one day – in the merry, merry month of May.  I was taken by surprise by…”   AND THEN, we would fall into our pool, laughing and laughing.  And then do it again….   Great fun!!

 Remembering our fun Dad on his birthday today.

 

Family is what it is all about.